The Dish: Big juicy steak edition

I absolutely love steak, and will usually choose it over chicken, fish or pork any day of the week. From Ribeye to Filet Mignon, to NY Strip, they all rock my taste buds for different reasons. This week I’m taking you to two establishments that (in my opinion) serve the best steaks around. In addition, they both have the kind of ambiance that creates the mood for a fantastic experience. Do I have your taste buds attention yet?

Recently my best friend and I visited the quaint and charming town of Bordentown City and dined at The Farnsworth House Restaurant. She and I hadn’t been there in years, so we decided to go for a “Girl’s Night Out!” The two-story setting has an upscale feel, offering an extensive menu sure to please any budget.

I was craving steak and drawn to the Filet Mignon (10 oz. Filet Mignon Charcoal- Flame Grilled with your choice of Béarnaise, Au Jus or Red Wine & Wild Mushroom Sauce), served with steamed broccoli & roasted potato, soup or house salad, all for just $28. Since I’m not particularly fond of mushrooms, I had the pleasure of choosing between the Béarnaise (an emulsion of clarified butter and egg yolk flavored with tarragon, shallots, and chervil) or Au Jus (dipping sauce made from the steaks’ own juices) to top the steak. This wasn’t an easy decision considering I love them both, but the creamy Béarnaise won. It went perfectly with the fork tender filet. There is something so divine about steak and potatoes, and everything was simply delicious. The salad was amazing as well, with a homemade creamy Gorgonzola dressing.

My friend is a huge fan of pasta dishes so she chose the Rigati Pomadoro Con Sausage (pencil points with fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and Italian mild sausage cubes), served with soup or house salad; $14. It was a great choice for her. She particularly enjoyed the flavors of the fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. The pasta was cooked to her liking, as well.

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For a tasty beverage to compliment your meal, The Farnsworth House Restaurant has a terrific wine list, among a variety of other spirits. Since it was a “Girl’s Night Out,” we decided to order a bottle of Chateau De Domazan for an incredible $22. This delightful Red, from the Rhone Valley in France, was recommended by the manager. It paired perfectly with our mouth watering entrees, and left a lingering spicy taste on my pallet, which I personally enjoyed.

If you’re not a fan of steak or pasta, don’t despair! There are plenty of other menu options to choose from, including cold and hot appetizers, soups, salads, dinner specials, like Crab Cake Ala Farnsworth (Broiled Crab Cake 6oz. with your choice of cayenne mayonnaise or tartar sauce serviced with asparagus and rice pilaf); $19.95, to pasta, chicken and seafood.

Although we were too full to squeeze in another bite, we gave it our best and shared the homemade Ricotta cheesecake with raspberry puree, just because we couldn’t resist. The smooth texture, with sweet topping, was a great choice to complete an enjoyable “Girl’s Night Out!”

Overall, we were pleased with the service! Our waiter Adam was attentive and very helpful with any questions we had about the dishes and how they were prepared.

Bordentown is a lovely place to visit any time of year. Plan to take a stroll along the streets of this quaint town and of course make dining at The Farnsworth House Restaurant a highlight of your visit! Perfect for family gatherings, parties, romantic meals and so much more.

My next pick is a place where great food is served in a trendy, yet traditional atmosphere! I was lucky to have a fun time with a friend over another delicious steak dinner at Salt Creek Grille (located in Princeton Forrestal Village).

The top notch establishment, using fresh, local farm ingredients (as part of their “Fresh (Reinvented)” approach) has quite an enticing menu. Choices consist of appetizers like Goat Cheese Marinara (sautéed wild mushrooms, caramelized onions and focaccia); $10.95, to salads like Beef Teriyaki Cobb (marinated all natural hanger steak, Great Hill blue cheese, bacon, red onion, egg, roasted peppers and balsamic vinaigrette on butter lettuce); $14.95, to the delicious steak I ordered; Mesquite (grilled all-natural hanger steak), served with oven roasted Yukon Golds, asparagus & cauliflower puree; $19.95. This was an all around fit for me on many levels. I love steak, I love potatoes, I love this particular veggie mix… And of course the price was right! The hanger steak, similar to flank steak, was tasty and full of flavor, some parts were fall off the bone tender. And of course the crusty warm bread (with melted cheese in the center) stole my belly. I almost asked to take some home.

My friend ordered the Porterhouse Stroganoff (Sliced All Natural Filet and New York Steak, Local Chef Select Garden Vegetables Over Hand Rolled Fresh Fusilli Pasta With Cabernet Demi Glaze); $23.95. She said the steak was amazingly tender and the vegetables tasted good!

I wish I could have tried several more of these fine dishes like in the movie The Holiday with Queen Latifah, where she enjoys her own personal buffet of fabulous selections to feast on. They all sound so good, including the Roasted Squash and Ricotta Ravioli (fresh, locally made ravioli made with corn, slivered almonds, snow peas, capers, cherry tomatoes, kale & sweet heirloom tomato marmalade); $16.95.

We ended the meal sharing the Brownie Cheesecake for $8.00. This was the bomb, rich and velvety, topped with vanilla ice cream. I’m a huge fan of cheesecake in general but this one truly was the perfect ending to a fun evening.

Salt Creek Grille has quite the nightlife with Happy Hour in the lounge, daily 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. serving an array of beers and drinks perfect after a hard day of work. I’ve been there for this and it’s definitely a happening spot to be at. They also serve brunch and lunch options, and several gluten free options. Check out their menu online to see their creative dishes, then plan your visit soon!